IMTT-BAYONNE

Incident Narrative

ON 1/29/21 AT APPROXIMATELY 0420 HOURS IMTT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFERRING NO.2 DIESEL FUEL BETWEEN TWO ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS WHEN THE IMTT PIPELINE OPERATOR NOTICED THE 75HP TRANSFER PUMP WAS ON FIRE. THE IMTT PIPELINE OPERATOR CONTACTED THE IMTT BULK OIL SUPERVISOR TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND THE IMTT BULK OIL SUPERVISOR TOLD THE IMTT PIPELINE SUPERVISOR TO SHUT THE PUMP OFF. UPON SHUTTING OFF THE PUMP THE FIRE IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE THE IMTT BULK OIL SUPERVISOR NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE PUMP SEAL. IMTT'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ARRIVED AT THE SCENE SHORTLY THEREAFTER. IMTT ALSO NOTIFIED BAYONNE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IMTT PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO ISOLATE THE PUMP AND ACV ENVIRO (IMTT'S OSRO) WAS CONTACTED TO BEGIN A CLEANUP OPERATION AND TO EVACUATE THE REMAINING PRODUCT IN THE PIPELINE. THE PUMP WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND BROUGHT TO IMTT'S MAINTENANCE SHOP FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT A BUILD UP OF ICE IN THE LINE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF SUCTION. THIS IN TURN STARVED THE PUMP OF PRODUCT WHICH LEAD TO EXCESSIVE FRICTION AND HEAT GENERATION.